EARLY MARRIAGE AND REFORM ASSOCIATIONS.	55
mental and moral development of the people by the
spread of education/'.
In 1890, the occurrence of a case In Bengal in which
too  early consummation had led to the
The Coasent Act.      }      _       _         . ,     .,	.     .   .
death  of a girl-wife again led   to  th*
discossion of the subject of early ftiarnage by the Indian
Press. The Government were strongly urged to take
steps lor the prevention of cases like that just alluded
to; and the Consent Act which raised the age of consum-
mation to 12 was the result.
The following resolution passed at tEe Sixth National
Social Conference shows  that the edu*
Early marriage
and Reform Asso-   cated Hindus are   well   impressed with
cmtioas,	^ ^^   ^   ^.j^   marrjage   ancj   ^^
they are endeavoring to remove them: "'That in the
opinion of the Conference^ it is essential that the
marriageable age of boys and girls should be raisedj,
and that all castes should fix minima varying from 1*8 to
21 for boys and 12 to 14 for girls according to cheir
circumstances, or that the final irrevocable marriage
rite (saplapadi or ph&ra) should be postponed £lt! the
bride becomes 14 years old". *
* It is worthy of note that the resolution was seconded by an orthodox
Hindo unacquainted with English. He said in Hindi:—"The early
marriage has roloed our country. Many people think that tlsere Is great
merit in marrjlng girls in their infancy. But there 15 no fottudatioo for
k in the Stiastras. Damajaoti, Sita, Draup,>ii, Rnkmlni acd others were
married at an advanced a^e. If I had time, I would have shown that
marriages at an advanced a*e are in accordance with the approved texts
of ihe HIncia Shastra."